Sudser for vacuum cleaners



June 18, 1957 Rv w. KLOCK SUDSEJR FOR VACUUM CLEANERS Filed May 14, 1956 20.4; (d. ZZOCZ v INVENTOR.

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fl7'70Q/VEV5 2,796,297 Patented June 18, 1957- SUDSER' FORVACUUM CLEANERS RolfW; Klock, Torrance, Calif.,. assignor to Interstate Precision Products Corp;, Anaheim, Calif.,-a corporation'of California Application May 14, 1356,: Serial No". 584,598. 2 Claims; (Cl; 299 -141 This invention relates to a sudser which ordinarily is used-ito. produce. a .streami'of fine: suds such as are used-foiicleaningrugs and upholstery.

The device, whilev capableof. other uses, is particu-' larly; us'efullih connectionwith anatomiZer or spray attachhrenti such as. is. frequently. furnished in vacuum cleaner kits. Usually such an atomizer or spray device includes a receptacle for a solution to be sprayed, the usual atomizer tubes, and an air tube with an outlet nozzle. The airv tube, has an inlet adapted for connection with a hose or tube to which various vacuum cleaner attachments can be secured.

While an atomizer or spray accessory ordinarily utilizes moth repellent solutions, light bodied paint mixtures and similar liquids successfully regardless of the force of the air stream, it has been found that in the formation of suds, there is a tendency for the high velocity air stream to create too great a pressure upon a soap or detergent solution and up on the stream of formed suds in a suds former attachment for a vacuum cleaner spray device.

It is an object of the invention to provide a suds former which can be quickly and conveniently secured to an air supply conduit such as the outlet nozzle portion of an atomizer or spray device, wherein suds are formed eificiently and controlled properly.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sudser wherein a portion of the air stream is directed through its suds forming element and excess pressure flow of air is vented before it reaches the suds forming element.

A further object of the invention is to provide a vented sudser wherein the vented air is directed generally outwardly and forwardly relative to the sudser so that finely divided moisture constituents of the vented stream will not be directed toward the sprayer.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vented sudser with a bafiie for directing the vented air forwardly toward the outlet of the sudser and additional bafile means to prevent the vented air from disturbing the column of suds issuing from the sudser.

The above and other objects and advantages will more fully appear from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawing.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through an embodiment of the invention showing its mounted relationship to an atomizer or spray device, the latter being indicated in broken lines.

Fig. 2 is a section taken approximately on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the suds forming element per se.

In Fig. 1 there is indicated an atomizer or spray device 4 which includes a detachable cup 6 extending down wardly from a head 8.

Extending across the top of the head is a tubular air flow conduit 10 having an inlet 12 adapted to receive the outlet end of a vacuum cleaner hose or air tube. Extending downwardly from the interior of the flow conduit i 10 and supported by the flow conduit and head assembly are suitable atomizer tubes, not shown, since' they are of any conventional and well known structure. As is customary" with such devices it is desired that there be asuitable control valve actuated by a knob 14. The

left'or outlet end of the flow conduit 10 is provided with an outlet nozzle 16.

The sudser includes a tubular body 18' whose right or inlet end is provided with an inwardly extending rib 20 having a. flange 2.2 which defines an opening 24' best shown in Fig. 2. The flange 22 is of irregular shape.

It has arcuate portions 26 and 28 which are approximately concentric to the axis 'of the tubular body 18, an arcuate portion 30 on a greater radius and a similarly greater rupted thread on'ithe outlet end of the air conduit 10,

said thread having an abutment complementary totheabutment-34 toprovide astop.

Within. the? tubular sudser body 18 is a: suds/forming element 36, which in Figs. 1 and 3 is shown made up of partially telescoping caps 38 and 40 whose flat surfaces 42 and 44 are provided with evenly distributed, numerous small apertures. Between the caps 38 and 40 is located a pad 46 of a suitable fibrous material, preferably glass fiber.

The suds forming element 36 is inserted in the left or outlet end of the tubular body 18 and positioned against a shoulder 48. The sudser is held in place by a sleeve 50 which is threaded into the tubular casing 18 and is provided with a generally outwardly radial baffie flange 52.

Adjacent the inlet or right end of the sudser body 18 is a series of air vent apertures 54. Extending outwardly and thence forwardly from the right or inlet end of the tubular body 18 is a baffle 56. Its forward portion lies outwardly from and at least overlies the vent openings 54 so that air issuing from the vent openings will be directed generally toward the left or outlet end of the body 18, preferably at an angle thereto.

In operation, a suitable solution of water and soap or a detergent is placed in the cup 6 and a vacuum cleaner hose or tube is inserted in the inlet 12 of the air conduit 10. Naturally the other end of the vacuum cleaner hose is connected to the blower outlet of the cleaner.

Atomizing action of the air flow causes a stream of air and detergent solution to issue from the nozzle 16 into the tubular sudser body 18. It is forced through the sudser element 36 where the apertures in the plates 42 and 44 of the caps 38 and 40 and the fibrous pad 46 will convert the atomized stream of detergent solution into a column of suds which issues from the left or outlet end of the sudser body 18. This column of suds is directed against the carpet, upholstered furniture or other article to be cleaned.

If the vacuum cleaner which is used to provide the air flow has reasonably high air output, the air supply is greater than that required for proper suds column formation. If the entire air stream is passed through the suds forming element 36 it will disrupt the column of suds and also will form undesirable large bubbles.

The vent openings 54 are provided to divert or vent a portion of the air stream from the sudser ahead of the suds forming element 36. The capacity of the vent openings is such that there is sufiicient pressure in the tubular body 18 to force the atomized liquid through the sudser element and produce a smoothly flowing continuou(s1 column of fine suds bubbles from the outlet of the su ser.

As stated above the baflie 56 directs the vented air generally forwardly relative to the sudser body. The

baffle 52 at the left or outlet end of the body 18 is provided to prevent the vented air from blowing against the issuing column of suds and breaking it up or otherwise making it unmanageable. i

' The device is of simple construction and can be readily attached to and removed from the atomizer or spraydevice. It requires no adjustment, the fibrouspad 46.in the suds forming element, if made of glass fiber, will not deteriorate, and the sudser can be cleaned easily by.immersion and agitation in water.

- It should be understood that various changes can be made in the form, detail, arrangement and proportions of the various parts without departing from the spirit of the invention. t

' I claim: i

1 1. An air activated sudser comprising a tubular body having an inlet end adapted for connection with the discharge of an atomizer, said body having an outlet end, a suds forming element across the interior of the body zforwardly of said inlet end, a pressure relief vent in the Wall of said body between the inlet end and said suds forming element, an air baffie exteriorly of the tubular body and located to direct air from said vent generally forwardly and ext-eriorly of said body, and a second baffie forwardly of said first baflle to divert vented air from suds issuing from said body.

2. An air activated sudser comprising a tubular body having an inlet end adapted for connection with the discharge of an atomizer, said body also having an outlet end, a suds forming element across the interior of the body forwardly of said inlet end, a pressure relief vent in the wall of said body between the inlet end and said suds forming element, an air bafile on the exterior of said body and extending forwardly and outwardly from a point rearwardly of said vent to a point intersecting the path of air flow from said vent, and a second baflie extending from said body between said first baffle and the outlet end of said body to divert vented air from suds issuing from the outlet end of said body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,100,165 Hol mberg et all Nov. 23, 1937- 2,511,420 Thompson June 13, 1950 2,514,107 Trostler July 4, 1950 2,585,092 Conto Feb. 12, 1952 2,664,278 Aghnides Dec. 29, 1953 

